Matic electric inc



J. WICKS MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM June 12, 1928. 1,673,131

Original Filed Oct. 50. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l *Imm- Juhu HLcks June 12, 1928. 1,673,131

J. WICKS MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM original Filed oct. 5o. 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jn'hn MERE ETT-y:

Patented June 12, 1928.

, N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` JOHN WICKs, OF OAK PARK, iLLTNois, Assioiion, En MEsNE IASSIGTIMELTTS, To AUTO- MATIC ELECTRIC TNG., OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIs, A. CORPORATION oF DELAWARE.

MEASURED-SERVICE TELEPHLDNE SYSTEM.

Application filed October 30, 1920. Serial No. 420,715. Renewed May 28, 1925.

The present invention relates in general to measured service telephone syst-ems, but more particularly to automatic party line measured service systems, and the principal obicct of the invention is'tlie provisionoic a system of this kind vwherein each station on a party line is provided with a meter at the exchange` and wherein each meter is adapted to be separately connected for registeriiig` calls whenever its associated station iscalling'. Incidental objects consist in the provision ot improved circuit arrangements whereby the foregoing is accomplished as eiiiciently possible and without compli-v cated mechanism at the subscribei"s station, all of wliicliwill be described fully herein-` a'ttcr with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. l `and 2 show by means of the usual circuit diagrams .the essentials of a telephone system embodyin g the principles of the invention.

Referring to Fig. l, the substations A and A. are ordinary automatic substations such for example as is shown in the U, S. patent to Smith, No. 1,221,235, granted April 3., 1.917. The two telephones are connected iii bridge of the line conductors 11 a1id`12 iii the usual manner, the line being whatis commonly rknown as a two party linen At the exchange the line conductors terminate in the individual line or trunk selecting switch C. The line switch C is ofthe well known rotary type, in which the wipers vhave nonormal position and. move in a -forward direction only. The functionof a switch or". this kind is to extend its associated line, when calling, to an idle trunk line extending to a first selector switch, and to this end the line switch C, in commoii with a plurality ot similar line switches, is given access to a group ot such trunk lines. One of the trunk lines to which the line switch "C has access is shown .in the drawing and extends by way ofv the repeater D to the first selector E, F ig. 2. vThe repeater DV comprises a group 4of relays as shown and is provided for the purpose of controlling thel meters associated with any calling line which hapn pens lto be using this particular trunk line, as will be explained fully later on.,A

The selector E i sv one of a plurality of sini-- .ilar selectors whose function it is to extend the calling lines to` desired matin groups ot called lines, and there may beonly one sclector switch, or a plurality in any given switchboard with the line switches.

connection depending on the size of the system. As shown herein it is assumed that both vfirst and second selectors are used, and one ot the latter type of switches is shown and is indicated 4by the reference character F. The second selectors have access to trunk lines extending to connector switches which in turn have access to the subscribers lines. lnasmucli as selector switches of the type mentioned are well known, only the wipers otselectors E and F are shown in t-he draw ing and the circuits are omitted. For a com` plete disclosure reference is made to the book entitled Automatic Telephony, by Smith and Campbell, published by the Mc- Gravi-lill Book Company in 1914.

One ot the trunk lines accessible to the second selector F is shown in the drawing and extends to the connector H. This switch,

as well as the selector switches, is of the well lmown Strowger vertical `and rotary type andvhas access to 100 subscribers lines, one

of which is the lineextending to substation A?. Although the circuits of the connector are well known they are shown in full, largely because of the fact that the connector circuits enter into control of the substation meters, and it would be inconvenient to cx plain the operation of the meters without includingthe complete connector circuit.

The meters, or call registers M and M,`

are associated, respectively, with substations A and A and maybe located at any pretei-red point in the exchange, as for example in a cabinet, or they may be mounted on the The meters are directly controlled by relays 24 and 25 which in turn are controlled from the repeater D in the trunk circuit. This repeater contains means which is selectively operated in accordance with a particular calling station on a party line in order to determine which of the meters associated with said line should be operated. The manner in which the meters are thus selectively controlled. is the principal feature of the invention andthe explanation thereof will now lie proceeded with.

For this purpose it will beassunied that the subscriber at substation A. Fig. l, desires to call a subscriber at substation A?, F ig. 2. l/Vhen the receiver is removed a cir cuit is completed over the line conductors ll i and l2flor the line relay l5 of the line switch C. Upon energizing, the line relay closes a circuit for the switching `relay .14 in 'series with the stepping magnetl 16 at its armature 21, andv at its armature 22 connects test wiper 32 tothe above circuit at a point midway between the said relay and magnet. The operation now depends upon whether the trunk line with which the switch wipers are associated isbusy 'or idle. Itthis trunk line is busy the test contact engaged by'the test wiper 32 will have a ground potential upon it, lthe switching relay 14 will be short cir cuited, 'and the stepping magnet 16, being supplied with direct ground via the test wiper, will koperate as a buzzer to advance they switch wipers step by step in search of an idle trunk line. lVe may assume, however, in the present case that when the call is initiated the wipers of the line switch C are standing upon the set of bank contacts shown vin the drawing, and it inay be assumed. furthermore thatthe trunk line terminating intliese bank contacts 'is idle. Under 'thesel circumstances when the line relay 15 is energized no rotary movement of the switch will take place, and the switching relay 14 willfenergize at once. Upon attracting its arn'iature 19 lrelay 14 connects ground to the test wiper 32 in `order to make the selected trunk line busy, closes a contact in the meter control circuit at its arn'iature 18 and at its armatures 17 and 2O extends the `line conductors I11 and "12 by way of the working contacts of the said armatures, wipers i0 and 32, bank contacts 34 and 37, conductors 38 and 41, armatures 59 andi62 and their resting contacts, windings of the diHerentia-l relay 52, and the windings of the line relay and the retard coil 7 5 to battery Vand ground, respectively.

When the calling line is extended to the 'repeater D as above vexplained the line relay '53 is energized over the line circuit and at its armature 64. closes a circuit for the s low acting release relay 54. Upon energizing, relay 54 prepares a circuit tor the slow acting relay 56 at armature 66, and at armature 67 connects ground to the release trunk conductor 86, thereby completing a holding circuit whichexteiiids back to the line switch C by way .of tlie'said conductor So', conductor .40, test contact 36, test wiper 32, armature 19 and its working contact, winding of theswitchingl relay 14. and the winding of the steppinganagiiet 1G to battery. This circuit is established before the" line relay 15 has had time to deenergize andseives to maintain the switching relay 14 energized throughout the duration of the connection. Ground is also placed on the private normal conductor which extends to multiply connected test contacts in .the banks of the connector switches 'which have access to the party line shown, whereby the said `line is made busy in the usual. manner.

`When the line relay 53 energizes it also vand the normally closed contact springs controlled by armature V462 kto conductor 87. then this bridge is closed 'a circuitis comA p'leted inthe usual manner for the line relay (not shown) of the `first selector E, 'and the line and release relays of thisselector switch are accordingly energized'to prepare the se` lector vfor operation in the usualinanner. It should be stated at this point thatl although the upper winding of the electropolarized relay 51 at the repeater D is in series with the lineielay ofthe first selector, relay 51 is lnotoperatefl at this time because of the opiposi'ngieitect ot its polarizing winding, 'the latter winding being now supplied 'with current i'roin the groundedY release trunk'coir ductor 40. Relay 51 is so adjusted that it requires the combined e'ti'ect of its t-wo windings ft'o operate it` and it will not operate 'from either winding alone, or when the 'two ,.windings are in opposition to each. other.

y The calling subscriber may now operate his calling device S iin accordance -with the first digit in the desired number. As a re sult a series ot interruptions is produced in the line circuit and the line relay `at the repeater D is causedto deeiiergize momentarilya plurality ot times. Ateaeh deeiiergization :relay 58 sends an impulse ot cur rent to relay '56 and since this relay is slow acting it remains in operated position `until the impulses cease. In its energized position relay 56 closes the bridge across -tlietrunk conductors S5 and87fover a direct `path which includesfon'ly the armature =71 and its working contact, the iinpulsing Contact -at armature 65 ot `the line relay 53, and the Anormally closed contact springs controlled by `armature 62. This direct bridge is openedl by the line relay each time itde energizes. `In addition to the operations already described relay "5b short circuits `the retard coil '75 at its armature 173 and at its armature -72 closes a circuit for relay y'The latter `relay upon energizing rlocks `itself to the release trunk conductor by means otvbridge across the trunk are the usualoperations 'which are provided lforin order to irnprove tlie line and trunk circuits for the "transmission ot impulses.

In response to the interruptions in thek bridge produced at armature of the line relay 53, the selector E is operated in the usual manner to select a group of trunk lines extending to second selector switches, after which the switch operates automatically to select and connect with an idle one of these trunk lines. The connection is thus extended to some second selector and we ywill assume that the second selector F is the one taken for use. i

The calling subscriber may now operate his calling device in accordance with the second digitv in the desired number. s before, a series of interruptions is produced in the line circuit, and these interruptions are repeated by the line relay 53 oll the repeater l) into the trunk circuit which. now extends throughto the second selector l?. This second selector accordingly operated to select a group of connector switches, after which its wipers are autonniticallyrotated to select and connect with a trunk line lead- 'ing to an idlegconnector switch in the lected group. .It will, be. assumed that the connector taken for use is the connector H, and whenthev trunk line conductorsl are ex tended through to the line. relay 10101 this connector said line relay will be energized. Upon attracting its armature 11st. relay 1.01 closes a circuit `for the slmY acting release relay 102 which, upon energizing, prepares the vertical magnet circuit at its armature 115, and at its armature 11bl connects ground to the release trunk conductor 92, thereby establishing a holdingcircuit- Alor the precedn ingr switches in the usual and well known manner. This holding circuit extends hack to `both selector switches and is established and extended by each oi said switches in turn, being always grounded at the last switch in any series of switches, which has been operated. Although not 4shown in tull here` holding circuits of this kind are well known and are shown in the publication Automatic Telephony, previously `referred to.

Thecalling subscriberniay now operate his calling device in accordancewith the next digit in the munber. The resulting interruptions in, the line circuit arerepeated as before by the line relay 53 of the repeater, and in consequence the line-relay .1010i the connector H is caused to deenergize a plun rality of times, a circuit being closedftor the vertical magnet 108 at each deenergiaation follows: ground at G4, armature 114 and its resting contact, armature 115 and rits working contact,v off normal springs 111 and 113, winding of` the slow acting relay 103, and the winding of the vertical magnet 1.08 to battery. By the operation oli the vertical magnet the connector shaft is raised step by step and the wipers 140443, inclusive, arel brought to rest opposite the level oi' bank contacts in which the line substation A2 `cuit at armature 122,

`chine to the lower side oiE the line.

located. Theslow acting relay 103 is ener-- gized :in series with the vertical magnet and retains its armature 117 attracted through out the vertical movement of the switch., thus maintaining the vertical magnet circuit intact after the off normalsprings have been shifted,` which occurs on'the tirst vertical step. At the end of the vertical movement, relay 1.03 is deenergized and transfers the operating circuit to the rotary magnet 109.

The calling subscriber may now call the next and final digit. in. the number. The resulting interruptions in the line circuit are repeated as before and the line relay 101 is again deenergized a plurality ottimes, this time, however, sending impulses to the rota ry magnet over the following path ground at G4, armature 114 and its restingr contact, armature 115 `and its workingcontact, off normal springs 111 and 112, armature '117 and its resting contact` resting contact of armature 122 and the said the winding ofthe rotary magnet 109 to battery. 1n` response to these impulses the :rotary magnet 109 is operated to rotate the switch wipers into engagement; with the particular set of bank contacts in which the line of substation A? is terminated, these bank contacts being indicated in the drawing by reference characters 144, 145, and 146. Re' lay 106 is energized in parallel with the rotary magnet and being slow acting holds its armatures attracted throughout the ro tary movement. At its armature 124, relay 100 connects the test wiper 142 to the winding ofthe test relay 105 and at its armature 1.25 a `shunt is connected around the break contact at the armature 122 of the test relay. This latter operation is to guard against the possibility of the rotary magnet circuit being opened by the operation o't the test relay in case the ltest wiper should engage grounded test contacts while the switch is rotated.

Assuming now that the called line isbusy when connection therewith is established, as described in the illoregoing, when the test wiper 142 comes to rest in engagement with test contact 1115 it will encounter a ground potential and test relay 105 will be energized. The test .relay locks itself at its arnfiature 121 (when relay 106 falls back an instant later), breaks the rotary magnet cirand at arn'iature 123 connects a lead from the busy signalling ma- An audible busy signal is thus transmitted to the calling subscriber. and being advised thereby that the called line :for the time being armature,` `armature 129 and its resting Contact, and

y each other and the relay is operated.

not be energized. Then when the slow act- Ain'g relay 106 falls 'ba-ck a circuit ifs completed for the 'switching relay 107 as follows: from the ygrounded release trunk `conductor 92 by way of armature 121 land its resting Contact, upper winding oi relay 10.7, resting contact of armature 12st and the said arinature, test Awiper 1112, test `Contact 1li-5, Wind ing ofthe switching relay 11i', fand the Winding oli the stepping magnet 16 to battery. Relays 107 and T14 are energizednin series over the above 'circuit and 'the latter relay Aclears the called 'line conductors oiftheirinor- `mal battery and ground connections inthe line switch C. AIt lis noted that ydueto a mechanical interlocking device'controlled by the line lrelay 1:5, which has not been `ener- -gizecl,`relay 14 is operated onlyiabout halt relay I107 isenergized it establishes a loclring circuit for itself at its armature 128. grounds the test wiper 142 at armature 127, opensjthe rotary magnet circuit at armature 129, and atarn'iatures '126 and 130 connects up the upper and 'lower lineari-pers 140 and 143. VRingiing cnrrentlirom `the generator GEN `is now rprojected*out over the calledline in the `usual manner to operate the 'bridged ringer at substation A2, thereby notifying the subscriber -that he is being called. 'It will be noticed `that the return path for the ringing current. includes the upper 'winding otfthe'ring'cut off relay 1011, and -when the called vsubscriber answers by removing` his receiver the said ring cut ott relay iis energized, establishing aloclting circuit 'for itselt .at its armature 1119. Relay 104: also opens the ringing circuit at its armatures `1.18 ,and '120, and at the 4working contacts oi these same armatures finally conipletesthe talking` circuit.' The transmitter at substation A2 is now supplied with talking `battery:through the windings of the double wound back bridge relay 100, which is immediately energized over the called line. Upon operating, relay 100 reverses the incoming trunk conductors 91 and 93 as regards -their connection to the windings oit' the line relay '101 and therefore reverses'the direction of current flow in the trunk conductors and 87, and in the upper winding of the electro- `polarized relay 51 which is included in the bridge across these conductors at the repeater D. The two windings otrelay 5l now assist At its armature 61 relay 51 short circuits a resistance which is normally in circuit with its lower orpolarizing` windino' so that the relay will now be held in operated position imlependent of the upper winding as long as the release trunk conductor 10 remains grounded. At armatures 59 and ll the incoming trunk conductors 38 and 4:1 are disconnected trom 'by way of its working contact, .armature 57 and its resting contact, conductor 39, rbank contact 35, wiper v31, armature 18 and `its 1working contact, and the-windings of relays 24C and Qinfseries torba'ttery. Relay Qis ot'y relatively lowl "resistance but nevertheless since direct ground liasfbeenlconnected to the conductor 39, both 'of these relays are energized and a circuit is completed in an olivi ous manner for the operating magnet of kmeter M. As stated fbefore, this meter :isthe one which is associated with substation A on the party line 'and it is operated when :this circuitis closedto register the call. In lorder to insure that relay 125 will energize slightly ahead of relay Q4, and v'thus guard against any possibility oit accidentally oper- Vating meter M, relay '224i is provided `wit-ha slug ot copper on one endet thecore and is thus made slightly slow to pull up.

The complete connection lia'ving been established the calling and rcalled subscriber may -now converse as desired and it `will ybe observed that as soon as thecalling line` has been extended directly through the repeater D, the transmitter atthe calling station will lbc supplied'witli talking battery'throughthe windings of the line relay 101 inthe `connector H, and this lrelayis now energized over the circuit including the calling line Irather than 'the bridge at the repeat-er D, as before.

Then vthe conversation iscnished both ysubscribers will hang up their receivers.

Then the receiver is replacedl atsubstation A, the line and release relays 101 :and102 in the connector Hare deenergized and a circuit is completed tor the release magnet 110 `which operates `to restore the connector to normal position inthe usual manner; Relay 102 also removes ground from theholding circuit including conductor 92, which has-up to 'this time been effective to maintain the selector switches QE and F, `and .the line switch C, in operated position. When ground is removed `trom this holding circuit, therefore, the selectors gE and F are released and restored to normal, and switching relay 11iin the lineswitch C is rdeenergized, thus restoring the line switch C to normal also. The electropolarized relay 5l in the repeater l) is also deenergized at this time, and all the apparatus will 'then `lbe in normal position and ready oruse'in another connection.

Having explained how the meter M is operated when acall is vmade from substation A, the process of operating the meter M when a callis made from substationA will now be briefly described. It Vwill be neces sary first to call attention to the Wiringof the calling devices at thetwo substations. These calling devices are exactlyralilze `but the coimections ot the shunt springs are slightly different. Considering` lthe calling device yS at substation A, the three shunt springs shown are adapted to be closed when thedial is operated and are so connected that whenever the dial is away from its normal position the transmitter and the `recei'ver will be short circuited and the impulse springs will be` connected directly across the two sides of the line in series with the primary winding ol the induction coil. This is the usualwiring tor a calling device ot' this type, whether it is being used at a party line substation, or not. The calling' device at substation A `is connected somewhat dillerently. i The middle shunt spring instead of being connected to the junction of the transn'iitter and receiver is connected direct to ground, and when the dial is away trom its normal position the impulse springs are connected troni the negative line conductorll to ground. Thus, while the calling device at substation A adapted to produce interruptions in a circuit including two sides of the line in series, the calling device at substation A is adapted to produce impulses in a circuitincluding only one side or' the line'and ground return.

The operations which take place when the subscriber at substation A makes a call may nowbe briefly pointed out. When the receiver is removed the line conductors 1.1V and 12 are extended by the line switch C `into connection with an idle trunk line'just thesame as inthe previous case, and it will be assumed that the trunk lineV` selected is the trunk line which extends through the repeater Dto the first selector E. When the line is extended to the repeater D the line re lay 53 is energized in series with the retard `coil 75, and the two windings of the differ ential relay 52 as before, and with the saine results. `The bridge is closed across the trunk line on the outgoing side of the ren peater `.and the selector Eis prepared for operation.

The callingsubscriber `will now operate his calling device in accordance with the first digit in the desired number. l/Vhen the dial is pulled down the shunt springs are permitted to close and the circuit of the line relay 53 is completed direct to ground at the substation. As a resultno current will tlow over the lower side ot' the line, including conductor 12, and the ditlerential relay 52 will be operated by the current flow in its upper winding. pon energizing, relay 52 closes a circuit for relay 50 at its arniature 63, and upon energizing in turn thesaid re lay 50 establishes a locking circuit for itself at its armature 58. Relay 50 also connects the resistance .77 in series with the conductor 39. `When the calling device dial is released it returns to'normal and a series oli interruptions are produced in the circuit ot' the .line relay' 53, which are repeated into the circuit of the line relay oit the lrst se lector E and the said selector operated. DuringV this first series ojt impulses relays 56 and 55 are energized, as previously explained, the latter relay is locked up, and the ditlerentialrelay 52 permanently cut out of the circuit. y

The remaining digits in the desired num-- ber mayV nowbe called and a selector and connector switch, the selector F and connector H lior example, are operated to complete theconnection to the desired called line, which may be the line out substation A2. When the called subscriber answers, back bridge relay l0() in the connector ll is energized and the direction ot' current flow in the trunk conductors is reversed. Responsive to the current reversal the electropolarized relay 5]` in the repeater l) is operated and the calling line conductors are connected straight through the repeater. Relay 5l also 4connects ground to conductor 259 by means oit' its armature 60, but now* sincere lay 50 has been energized the resistance 77' f is included in the circuit and the current flow through the relays 24 and 25, although it is sulticient to operate the relay 24, will he insullicient to operate the low resistance and marginally adjusted relay 25. .Relay 25,V therefore, remains inoperative` and a circuit .is completed by relay 24 for energizing the operating magnet olf meter M', which is thus operated to register the call. The release ot the connection takes place when the receiver is hung up at substation A', the saine as in the case where the calling subscriber was the subscriber at substation A.

Having described myV invention, what l consider to be new and desire to have pro-- -tected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the.appended claims.

Vhat l claim as my invention is:

l. ln an automatic telephone system, a party line, a -meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange .for use in extending connections, dials at said stations for controlling said switches, and means actuated responsive to the operation of one of said dials to control said switches for determining that the corresponding meter will be operated to register the call.

2. In an automatic telephone system, a party line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange, dials at said stations for con-- trolling said switches, a meter selecting ree 1ay,and means responsive to the actuation ot a certain of said dials for controlling said Ci i relay to determine which of' saidf meters is to bev operated to register the'call.

3.` In an automatic telephone system, a partyy line,'a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic Vswitches at the exchange for use in extending connections, dials at said' stations for controlling said switches, relay me'chanism'at the exchange for selecting the proper meter 'for operation when any station makes a call', and means responsive to the' actuation of said dial to controll one oisaid automatic switches for controlling said mechanism. et. In an Vautomaticv telep'l'lone system, a` two party line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches .at the exchange, calling devices at said stations for directively controlling said switches, a ditferentiall relay for determining which meter willbe operated when either station makes a call, and means for energizing said relay over the calling line responsive to said calling device at the calling station onlywh'en the calll originates at 25' va particular one ofsaid stations.

y5. In a telephone system, a two party line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange, a calling device at one of said stations adapte ed to selectively control said switches over a circuit including the two sides of the line in series, a calling device at the other station adapted*v to selectively control' said switches over a grounded circuit including only one side of the line, and means at the exchange dependent.A on` which control circuity is used when a'. call is made for determining which of saidf meters will he operated.

6I In a telephone. systeim a two party line, a meter at the'exchange for each station on the. line, automati'cswitches at the exchange, a calling device at, one ofJ said stations adapted to selectively control said switches over a circuit including the twosides of the line in series, ai callingvl device at the other station adapted to selectively. control' saidswitchesover a grounded circuit including only one side off the. line., and relay mecha nism vat the` exchange controlled in accordance with the control' circuit in use when a call isv made for determining which of said meters. will be operatedy to, register the call.

TQ In a telephone system, apartyline, a meter at the exchange for each station on the. line, automatic switches at the exchange, a calling device at each station generating codes of impulses, a repeater for repeating said impulse codes to saidautomatic switches toA control them, and means in said repeater responsive to circuit conditions in the call ing line when any station; is: making a call for determining which oi saidy meters. is to be. operated,

8L Inatel'ephone system, a party line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the'line, automatic switches'at the exchange, a calling device at each station for generating codes of impulses, a repeater t'or repeat` ingsaid impulse codes to said automatic switches to controlthem, and relay mechanism in said repeater responsive to circuit conditions in the calling line when any station is making a call for determining which ot said meters is to be operated'.

9,111 an automatic telephone system, a party line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches at the" exchange, dials at said stations for controlling said switches, relay `mechanism at the exchange for selecting the proper meter for operation when any station makes a call, means for controlling saidmechanism responsive to the operation of the dial at olie of said calling'stations in accordance with the first digit oit' the called number, land means for operating the selected met-cr when the called subscriber answers.

l0; Ina telephone system, a two party line, a meter at the exchange tor each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange, a calling device at onek ofV said stations adapted to selectively control said switches `over a circuit including the two sides of the line in series, a calling device at the other station adapted lto selectively tontrol said svvitchesA over a grounded cir`-k cuit including only one side of the line, means at the exchange dependent on which control circuit is used when a call is made for determining which of said2 meters Will be operated, andk means ttor operating the selected meter wheny the. called subscriber answers; t .n

ll.` In a telephone` system,` a party line, a meter at the lexchange vtor each station on' theline, automatic switches at the exchange, ay calling device at each station for transmitting impulse codes, repeater for repeating said codes to said'V automatic switches to control them, means in said repeater respon sivel to circuit conditions in the calling line ing said codes to said switches to controlv them, means in saidv repeater responsive to circuitv conditions in the callingA line when any station is making a callifor determining which of said meters is to he operated, and means for operating theselected meter and Ator eliminating the repeater from the connection when the meter is operated.

13. In a telephone system, aparty line, a

lil() iis (ill

meter at the exchange for each station on the line, `automatic switches at theexchange and a repeater' for controlling them, a calling device vat each station Afor controlling said repeater, relay mechanism in said repeater responsive to circuit coi'iditions in the calling line when any station is n'iaking a call `tor determining which oi? said meters 1s to be operated, said mechanism including a relay in series with the calling line, and means tor shunting said relay alter the proper meter is selected.

1.4-, In a telephone system, a party line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange and a repeater `tor controlling them, a calling device at each `station lfor controlling said repeater, means in said repeater respon sive to circuit conditions in the calling line when any station is making a call t'or determining which ot said meters is to be operated, means for operating `the selected meter when the called subsiriber answers, and means for establishing a direct metallic talk-- ing circuit through said repeater tor convel'u sational purposes.

l5. In an automatic telephone system, a lparty line, a meter at the exchange for each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange, calling devices at said stations tor controlling said snf'itches, a meter selecting relay, and means tor operating said relay re sponsive to the setting of the calling device at a particular one ot' said stations.

l. vIn an automatic telephone system, a party line, a meter at the exchange` for each station on the line, automatic switches at the exchange, calling devices at said stations for controlling said switches, a meter selecting relay, each oi' said calli Y devices having a rotatable dial, and means for operating said relay responsive when the'dial at a particu` lar calling device is rotated away 'from its normal position.

17. In a measured service telephone system, party lines, a plurality of telephone stations assigned to each line, an impulse transmitter at each station, a plurality o't' meters, veach station having one oiu said me ters assigned individually thereto, and means common to said lines and responsive to an actuation olE said impulse transmitter ior rendering a particular meter operative when the corresponding particular station is used for making a call.

18. ln a telephone system, a plurality ol party lines having a plurality ot substations connected with each line, a register mechanism individual to each of said substations, means common to said lines for selecting one of said mechanisms after the initiation 0i a call at an associated substation, and means t'or reversing the current in the calling line to cause the operation of the selected registering mechanism.

19. In atelephone system, a two party line, a meter at the exchange normally connected for registering calls from one ofthe substations on said line, a second meter for registering calls from the other station, a meter selecting relay for switching the con neet-ion from one meter to the other, a ground return circuit closed at one of said stations, after the call is initiated, for controlling said relay, means at the corresponding station -for opening the ground circuit during conversation, and means cont-rolled by the response of the' called subscriber t'or operating the connected meter.

20. In a telephone exchange system, a calling telephone line, a plurality of stations thereon, a message register for each station of the line, automatic switching mea-ns for extending a connection from the calling line, a circuit for operating the message registers, means common to aplurality of linesfor testing the calling line to determine which station of the party line is calling, a switching device individual to the calling line controlled by said testing means for extending saidA circuit to the message register corresponding to the calling line, and means for closing saidmessage register circuit to actuate said register.

Q1. In telephone exchange system, a call ing telephone line, a plurality of stations thereoma message register for each station of the line, automatic switching means for extending a connection from the telephone Y line, a circuit for operating the message reg-- isters, means common to a plurality of lines for testing the calling line to determine which station of the party line is calling, electromagnetic means individual to the ca1ling line controlled by said testing means for extending said circuit to the message register corresponding to the calling line, and means t'or closing said message register circuit to actuate said register.

22. In a telephone exchange system, a. calling line, a plurality of subscribers subst-ationsvon said line, a called line, automatic switching mechanism for establishing a connection between said lines, message re isters associated with said calling line an indi-- vidual respectively to said substations, means associated with the several substations for placing discriminatory test conditions on said callingline, means associated with said switching mechanism common to a plurality oil lines and responsive to said test condi tions, and means lindividual to said calling line and responsive to said last named means tor selecting the message register corre-l sponding to the calling substation.

28. In a telephone exchange system, a calling line, a plurality otf subscribers substations on said line, a called line, automatic l switching mechanism `t'or establishing a con nection between said lines, message registers associated with. saidcalling. line and individual respectively to, said su'bstations, means associated with the several substations for. placing discrimiiiatory test conditions on saidy callinwfr` line, means associated With said switching mechanism common to a plurality o'lllines and responsive to said test conditions, means. indiridual to the callingl line controlled by said: secondi` mentioned means for selectii'ig the message registei` corresponding to the calling, substation,` and means effective. following the successful esn tablisliment. of the connection for operating the selected register'.

24.1n a telephoney exchange system, a calling line, two subscribers"suhstatons on said line, av called line,- automatic switching mechanism forestahlis-hing connections between said lines message registers associated With said'. calling line and individual respectively. :to said suhstations, 4a .switching device individual to the calling` line, means at one of.' said' substat'ions for vplacing a discriminatory ground' potential upon one oi" the conductors of the calling line, means associated with said switching mechanism common toa plurality of lines and' responsive to saidj ground Apotential ifor deteri'i'iining the position of said switching' device 1c select the message register corresponding to the calling substation, and means eliective upontlie successful..establishment of' the connection for operating. the. selected; register.

25. In a telephone exchange system, a callino` line,v two subscribers" sahstations on said line, a called line, automatic switching mechanism for establishing connections between said lines, means at one of said substations for placinga discriminatory ground test potential upon one of the conductors of the calling line, message registers associated with said calling` line and individual respectively to said suhstations, a common operatingcircuit Jfor said registers, switching means lor associating one or the other of said registers with saidV operating circuit, a relay associated with said switching mechanism common to a plurality of lines and responsive to said test potential for controllingl the ope 'ation o't said switching means to connect the register to the common operatingl circuit cr'n'responding to the calling station, and means effective upon the success- 'ful establishment of the connection for operating the selected'register.

ln a telephone exchange system,y a linet a plurality of; stations thereon, a cut-H relay, a message register corresponding to each of said stations, a circuitffor opera-ting said message registers, and cont-acts controlled by said cut-oft relay for switching any' one of said registers to said circuit.

Signed' niiais, aus th day Ofoaober, 1920.

JoHNV WroKs.

hy me at Chicago, Cook County, 

